runakid Loc: Shelbyville, TN

Any advice or suggestions on my upcoming driving trip would be appreciated. Leaving from Nashville and heading to Anchorage. Once there everything is planned. Had planned on flying but changed my mind. I think the trip up and back will be wonderful by itself.

UXOEOD

I suspect you are correct. Often the journey will out perform the destination. Only advise, plan more time traveling than needed, no rush, plenty of time for sidetrips and minor, unforgettable, unexpected adventures.

Envious of both the destination and the journey. Good luck!

richard-sports Loc: New York City

Hope you are going to Seward to take one of the wildlife boat trips.

runakid Loc: Shelbyville, TN

Yes ,Richard, I am going to Seward with my Republican buddies. Because of our trip thru Canada, we will be unprotected until we each get home.

Seward is going to be one of our main stops. Thanks for the help.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

yes but extra batteries & cards and buy a backup charger.

when going north or when returning you can visit Yellowstone it could be on your way.

Oh and take LOTS of shots and have fun.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

You'll see a lot of country.

But to be honest, I wouldn't recommend what you are doing. Instead, take the same time and money, and see Alaska. It is unique, and not like anything in the Lower-48. But the unique part is not connected by roads...

Guaranteed that what you will see is fantastic, but honestly even the part inside Alaska is no more fantastic than driving a big circle starting at home and traveling just as many miles. Everything on the highway system in Alaska, with a couple of exceptions that you are unlikely to ever even notice, is just the same here as it is there.

Fly to Anchorage, and then take another plane. Dillingham and Nome are two possible places to go, but Bethel, Kotzebue or Barrow are even better. In June I really would suggest coming to Barrow for Nalukataq (the Blanket Toss celebration). These places are uniquely part of Alaska and have almost nothing in common with the Lower-48. An entirely different way of life.

If you are really adventurous, trips to places like McGrath, Aniak, Unalakleet, Point Hope, Wainwright, Kaktovik, and/or Anuktuvuk Pass are one more step deeper into the uniqueness of culture in Alaska.

runakid Loc: Shelbyville, TN

Thanks to all- thanks for the great suggestions. I am meeting two friends in Anchorage for a Joseph Van Os tour at Brooks Falls. Then the 3 off us will spend 8 days seeing Denali and Seward and Homer before they fly home.
I hope to stop in White Horse on the way up or back to see a guy I met on line.

If all goes well on this trip, I will bring my wife back in September. I think we might take the ferry back to the US.

Any ideas on the ferry part of the trip. I heard it can be quite expensive.

On the first trip, I will be driving my Tundra 2 wheel drive. I was hoping to bring our VW Jetta for the September trip. I understand that some of the road is still dirt.

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

I think anyone who has travelled through Glacier, Banff and Jasper N.P's and up the Alaska Highway (Alcan)through the Yukon and then into Alaska will tell you to pretty much ignore Apaflo's advise just to fly it. Just take a look at almost anything posted by Blacks2 and you'll see just a tiny fraction of what can be spotted on the drive up.

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

The Alaska ferry is quite expensive, slow and poorly organized. You can easily waste a day or more just with loading and unloading.
The entire Alaska (Alcan) highway is paved and has been since the 1990's so your vehicles will have no problem driving it. Early September is a beautiful time of year up there but be prepared for cold nights. But clear gorgeous days.

Smokey66 Loc: Hanover, ON, CA

Ummm.....unprotected from what, while in Canada?

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

You missed the point! What are you comparing to? Have you been to any of the places I suggested?

I'm not guessing about it, I've been to all of them except Dillingham, and have lived in Aniak, Bethel, Nome, and on the highway system (Salcha) before moving to Barrow.

Why spend all that time and money to visit the part of Alaska that is most like where you are from and skipping the parts that are uniquely Alaskan!

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

I'm suggesting that he would be missing so much by flying over it when he could see it all while driving through it. Once he's in Alaska he can always branch out to some of the places you suggested.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Every day spent seeing another highway is time that could have been put to better use. There is no experience like eating a King Salmon straight out of the river in early June in Bethel, or a smoked salmon in late June. Nothing on any highway in North America is like Nalukataq in Barrow. Nothing.

runakid Loc: Shelbyville, TN

How do I see their stuff [Blacks2]?

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

You could use the search button at the top of the page or the user list.